The Poultry Keeper

james419 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:20 am Post subject: Progress report

A quick update on our Brahma's that hatched in March

If any one can confirm if one is a cockerel NannyP and I would be delighted

This is Jam - A chinese gosling that fell out of the nest and we spotted 1/2 out of his shell, straight into the incubator for warmth and hopefully to feather up - no luck too much gunge so cotton wool balls and warm water and 3 days later doing well

This was his first excursion outside with his big brother/sister Plum (she hatched naturally (another Chutney) did not make it as mum stood on her!

And this is just to give and idea of size

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1048 Location: Manchester

Them goslings are lovely Smile

I think the second brahma down could possibly be male, looks like it may have the startings of saddle feathers coming on.

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1390 Location: Clawddnewydd

I've got 4 Chinese geese eggs in the inc at the moment, really looking forwards to them hatching and I've got 10 brahma eggs plus some orps ( Rolling Eyes

hope they get on better than Damian!) due out over the next week or so Very Happy

Excellent names for the goslings Wink

NannyP · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:38 am Post subject:

Top Brahma, definitely a coq James, the other two are hens. All resembling their parents. I have one 8 week old hen.
Guess where I shall be getting hatching eggs from next year Very Happy

Goslings are gorgeous, well done for catching Jam in time.

james419 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 10:54 am Post subject:

That is good news - in which case he will be Monsieur Pantelon the other will be Madam Pantelon
Childrens names
Knickers,
Thong,
Gee
String
Briefs etc.

NannyP · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 11:07 am Post subject:

mojo · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject:

glad someone can sex brahmas..........after all i said ITS A HEN and that started them off

Sylvia · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject:

Oh James, you didn't admit to me on the other forum you had some beautiful Brahmas. As you know, now I have started they are top of my wish list. I love to see a nice big dark Brahma cockerel strutting his stuff, so majestic.

It will be interesting to know who is right, NannyP or Mojo.

james419 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject:

That is a discussion I am not courageous enough to enter!!!!!!

Having said that I do hope we a have a Monsiuer and Madam Pantelon - NannyP gave me the eggs and shrtly afterwards Trousers departed this mortal coil - so we are hoping to re-establish the line, they are lovely and will become family hence the names - anything with no name is heading for the freezer - our french neighbour thinks we are totally mad but enjoys the concept - except that we dont keep to the french lettering - this year is D and our pigmy goats are Lola - Mum - Leila and Lettuce!!!!!!!

NannyP · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject:

Sylvia,

last, late July, I went to Mojo's with 2 of my Sasso x coqs to be taught how to dispatch and prepare them for the table.

After the most emotionally and physically exhausing experience, and a nice lunch, we were casting our eyes over Mojo's stock.
Mark (mon marie) remarked about a pretty chicken, and Mojo said she was a lovely Brahma hen, very docile and gentle. Mark mentioned that he liked Brahma's, and was offered the said bird. Over the moon, we brought the bird home (alongside one not so lucky Confused

) and that was that.

The next day, once my brain was back in gear and I was over my shock, we let the lovely Brahma out into the garden, and it very happily dust bathed next to our feet whilst we watched. Not long after, another cog clicked in and I realised that the bloody Hen was a Coq....that Mojo had given us a coq Shocked

We had quite a few at that point, although mostly destined for le table....but anyway, we began to become attached to this very docile bird, and he got named Trousers. He would follow us around the garden, and hag about when were sitting out there, and became a lovely pet.

Later that summer (sorry, try and stay awake Wink

) my neighbours dog slipped her chain, and came over and killed one of my Cream Legbar hens Sad

I was mad, and my neighbour knew I was mad, despite the language difficulty. He, once he realised this was not just any bird, offered to replace her, but I kept refusing, telling him that he wouldn't be able to source another CLB over here. A couple of months later (the water had calmed beneath the bridge) he turned up at our door at 8ish with a hen under his arm. A Gold Brahma hen, a perfect match for Trousers (who we'd now established was a Gold Brahma coq). So, they very quickly became a pair (that always amazes me) and despite the amourous overtures of Billy No Mates the CLB coq, Trousers became her escort around the garden.

This February, I penned the 2 Brahma's together and waited for the patter of tiny feet. Started collecting fertile Sasso x eggs for James (the toy boy!) and when he arrived with his woman, persuaded him to hatch a few Brahma's to see if they were viable. Not long after that, Trousers keeled over with a heart attack, and we were left bereft. I was just about to start my own incubation, and added to this what I thought were 7 eggs from Mrs Trousers. After candling, it was obvious that most were not fertile, and I was unsure of the rest. We hatched 2, and as the weeks went on, I could see that one was a cross.
So, we have one 8 week old Brahma hen and are really pleased that James's eggs have produced a coq.

So, that's the story, and sorry for hijacking your thread James Embarassed

james419 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject:

Beautifully put - hence Monsieur & Madam Pantelon!

Sylvia · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:46 am Post subject:

Nanny P, I love a good story and I hope this one has a happy ending and Trousers distinguished line continues. Lucky you having a toy boy Wink

James, Love the names, I am resisting the urge to name mine until they grow a bit but one of them is proving to be a bit of an escape artist so at the moment is called Captain Hilts (Steve McQueen - The Great Escape) I know those destined for the pot/freezer will be called Roast, Kiev, Vin, etc.

james419 · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:58 am Post subject:

Some friends have bought a couple of goslings and they are called Christmas and Easter - not very imaginative but as Terry says - accurate!

NannyP · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

James is someone else's toy boy Laughing